Dynamics of Social Network Patterns in University Admission Outcomes and Their Implications for Students’ Satisfaction with Courses of Study in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examined the dynamics of social network ties, students’ network positions in admission process outcomes and their social implications for students’ satisfaction with their current course of study in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The study adopted an ex post facto research design and an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. The study used the qualitative findings to explain the quantitative results. The population for the study comprised undergraduate students admitted to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. A sample of 300 students was randomly selected from four faculties using a multistage sampling technique. The two instruments used in the study were titled Social Networks and Admission Process (SNAP) and Focus Group Discussion Guide (FGDG). Data collected were analysed using frequencies, percentages, and thematic analysis. The results of the analysis showed that 81.3% of the students did not choose their courses of study in UTME while 18.7% of the students chose their courses of study in UTME. It was revealed that direct patterns of social networks (78.0%) were prevalent during the admission process. The result of the analysis also showed that 69.3% of the students were not satisfied with their courses of study, which may contribute to psychosocial imbalance and negative attitudes towards study.

Keywords: social networks; social capital; university admission; student satisfaction; higher education; educational inequality; admission fairness.

How to Cite This Article

APA (7th Edition)

Ifedayo, A. J. (2026). Dynamics of social network patterns in university admission outcomes and their implications for students’ satisfaction with courses of study in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Niger Delta Journal of Education, 1(1), 64-80.

MLA (9th Edition)

Ifedayo, Adebayo Joseph. “Dynamics of Social Network Patterns in University Admission Outcomes and Their Implications for Students’ Satisfaction with Courses of Study in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.” Niger Delta Journal of Education, vol. 1, no. 1, 2026, pp. 64–80.

Chicago (Author-Date)

Ifedayo, Adebayo Joseph. 2026. “Dynamics of Social Network Patterns in University Admission Outcomes and Their Implications for Students’ Satisfaction with Courses of Study in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.” Niger Delta Journal of Education 1 (1): 64–80.

Harvard

Ifedayo, A.J. (2026) ‘Dynamics of social network patterns in university admission outcomes and their implications for students’ satisfaction with courses of study in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria’, Niger Delta Journal of Education, 1(1), pp. 64–80.

IEEE

A. J. Ifedayo, “Dynamics of social network patterns in university admission outcomes and their implications for students’ satisfaction with courses of study in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria,” Niger Delta Journal of Education, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 64–80, 2026.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

Contact

Reach out for submissions or inquiries: nigerianpublishinghouse@gmail.com

quick links

subscribe to our newsletter

• About

• Journals

• Current Issue

• Submit Manuscript

• Contact

• Publication Ethics

© 2026. Nigerian Publishing House. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use I Publication Ethics I Open Access and Copyright Policy

Subscribe to receive updates on new journal issues, calls for papers, publishing announcements